Panthers, Oilers trade early goals for hot start to Game 7

Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final is off to a blistering start.

Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe opened the scoring at 4:27 of the first period with a perfect redirection.

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE GAME 3 THE PANTHERS TAKE THE LEAD! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/D6q8IBag61
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 25, 2024

The goal briefly gave the Panthers their first lead since Florida won Game 3.

Oilers forward Mattias Janmark responded just 2:17 later to even up the contest.

Mattias Janmark ties the game with the fourth #Game7 goal of his career! #StanleyCup 👀

🇺🇸: ABC & @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/yDHcpztEiG
— NHL (@NHL) June 25, 2024

Janmark's goal was Edmonton's 23rd of the Cup Final, the most the Oilers have scored in the team's eight trips to the championship series.

Edmonton is looking to complete a reverse sweep of the Panthers after trailing 3-0 in the series. The feat has been accomplished once in Cup Final history when the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs came all the way back against the Detroit Red Wings.